Newly appointed Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood MP, used his keynote speech on day two of Highways UK 2025 to praise the industry while warning of potentially difficult times ahead.

Beginning on a light-hearted note by referring to him replacing his predecessor Lillian Greenwood in the ‘transfer window’, Mr Lightwood, MP for Wakefield ans Rothwell, said that he was looking forward to delivering some big results in his new role.

“Britain’s roads, cycleways and footways are more than just concrete and tarmac. They’re our path to education and to opportunity and the way that in which we connect ourselves with our loved ones,” he said. “Your industry is of our economy and of our society, and that’s why it sits at the heart of this government’s 10 year infrastructure strategy. Armed with a long term vision, we’re finally ending the short-term political thinking and instead delivering the certainty and the stability that you deserve, all while supporting jobs and chains, creating those high paid jobs and building a transport network that is fit for the future. DfT has set out its draft Road Investment Strategy [RIS3], with the final version due to be published in March. In it, we have committed to almost £25 billion to support National Highways until 2031.”

He continued: “That’s a £2 billion increase on the previous five-year period. The strategy will focus on accelerating the much needed renewals and progressing a number of landmark enhancement, dualling the A66 Northern Trans Pennine project in Newark, and upgrading the M60 Simister Island interchange. We’re also moving full speed ahead with the Lower Thames Crossing. This will be the most significant road road building scheme in a generation, with the power to improve connectivity and ignite growth across the whole of the UK.”

You can hear Simon Lightwood’s address in full on this afternoon’s episode of Highways Voices, brought to you in association with Westcotec, SWARCO, Arcadis and Clearway.

(Pic: Highways News)